WARNINGS
Keep batteries out of reach of children.Batteries contain sulfuric acid. Avoidcontact with skin, eyes or clothing. Shieldyour eyes when working near the battery toprotect against possible splashing of acidsolution. In case of acid contact with skin oreyes, flush immediately with water for aminimum of 15 minutes and get promptmedical attention. If acid is swallowed, call aphysician immediately.
Battery posts, terminals and relatedaccessories contain lead and leadcompounds. Wash hands after handling.
For vehicles with Auto-Start-Stop thebattery requirement is different. Youmust replace the battery with one of exactlythe same specification.
Your vehicle is fitted with a Motorcraftmaintenance-free battery which normallydoes not require additional water.
When a battery replacement is required, youmust use a recommended replacementbattery that matches the electricalrequirements of the vehicle.
Note:If your vehicle has a battery cover,after cleaning or replacing the battery, makesure you reinstall it.
Note:See an authorized dealer for batteryaccess, testing, or replacement.
To make sure the battery managementsystem works correctly, do not connect anelectrical device ground connection directlyto the battery negative post. This can causeinaccurate measurements of the batterycondition and potential incorrect systemoperation.
Note:If you add electrical accessories orcomponents to the vehicle, it may adverselyaffect battery performance and durability.This may also affect the performance ofother electrical systems in the vehicle.
If you see any corrosion on the battery orterminals, remove the cables from theterminals and clean with a wire brush. Youcan neutralize the acid with a solution ofbaking soda and water.
Because your vehicle’s engine iselectronically-controlled by a computer,some engine control settings are maintainedby power from the battery. Some enginecomputer settings, like the idle trim and fueltrim strategy, optimize the driveability andperformance of the engine. The clock andradio station presets are also maintained inmemory by power from the low-voltagebattery. These settings are erased when atechnician disconnects and connects thelow-voltage battery.
To restore the settings, do the following:
Note:Until you switch the ignition to the onposition, you will receive a message in yourinformation display stating that your vehicleis not in park.
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift into park (P) or neutral (N).
3. Switch off all accessories.
4. Press the brake pedal and start yourvehicle.
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5. Run the engine until it reaches normaloperating temperature. While the engineis warming up, complete the following:Reset the clock. See Audio Unit (page395). Reset the power windowsbounce-back feature. See PowerWindows (page 96). Reset the radiostation presets. See Audio Unit (page395).
6. Allow the engine to idle for at least oneminute.
7.Drive the vehicle at least 10 mi (16 km) tocompletely relearn the idle trim and fueltrim strategy.
Note:If you do not allow the engine torelearn the idle and fuel trim strategy, theidle quality of your vehicle may be adverselyaffected until the engine computereventually relearns the idle trim and fuel trimstrategy.
Note:Certain features may not operate ifthe battery monitor system is not reset witha scan tool following a jump start or batteryreplacement. Normal electrical accessoryoperation should resume after your vehicleis left undisturbed for 8 hours.
Make sure that you dispose of old batteriesin an environmentally friendly way. Seekadvice from your local authority aboutrecycling old batteries.
If storing your vehicle for more than 30 dayswithout recharging the battery, werecommend that you disconnect the batterycables to maintain battery charge for quickstarting.
CHECKING THE WIPER BLADES
Run the tip of your fingers over the edge ofthe blade to check for roughness.
Clean the wiper blades with washer fluid orwater applied with a soft sponge or cloth.
CHANGING THE WIPER BLADES
Replace the wiper blades at least annuallyfor optimum performance.
You can improve poor wiper quality bycleaning the wiper blades and thewindshield.
Note:Do not hold the wiper blade whenlifting the wiper arm.
Note:Make sure that the wiper arm doesnot spring back against the glass when thewiper blade is not attached.
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CHANGING THE ENGINE AIR
FILTER
WARNING
Do not start the engine with the air filterremoved. This can cause damage notcovered by the vehicle Warranty and canresult in serious injury.
Only use the specified replacement air filter.See Capacities and Specifications (page373).
Change the air filter element at the correctinterval. See Scheduled Maintenance (page509).
When changing the engine air filter, do notallow debris or foreign material to enter theair induction system. The engine andturbocharger are susceptible to damage fromeven small particles.
Note:Failure to use the correct air filterelement may result in severe enginedamage. Resulting component damage maynot be covered by the vehicle Warranty.
1. Release the clamps that secure the airfilter cover to the housing.
2. Carefully lift the air filter housing cover.
3.Remove the air filter element from the airfilter housing.
4. Wipe any dirt or debris from the air filterhousing and cover to make sure no dirtgets in the engine and that you have agood seal.
5.Install a new air filter element. Be carefulnot to crimp the filter element edgesbetween the air filter housing and cover. This could cause filter damage and allowunfiltered air to enter the engine if it isnot properly seated.
6. Install the air filter housing cover.
7. Engage the clips to secure the air filterhousing cover to the air filter housing.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Your dealer has many quality productsavailable to clean your vehicle and protectits finishes.
CLEANING PRODUCTS
Materials
For best results, use the following productsor products of equivalent quality:
SpecificationName
Motorcraft® Bug and Tar Remover, ZC-42 (U.S. & Canada)
ESR-M5B194-BMotorcraft® Custom Bright Metal Cleaner, ZC-15 (U.S. & Canada)
ESR-M14P4-AMotorcraft® Detail Wash, ZC-3-A (U.S. & Canada)
ESR-M14P3-AMotorcraft® Engine Shampoo and Degreaser, ZC-20 (U.S.)
Motorcraft® Engine Shampoo, CXC-66-A (Canada)
WSS-M99P43-BMotorcraft® Premium Leather and Vinyl Cleaner, ZC-56 (U.S. & Canada)
Motorcraft® Multi-Purpose Cleaner, CXC-101 (Canada)
WSS-M14P19-AMotorcraft® Premium Windshield Wash Concentrate with Bitterant, ZC-32-B2 (U.S.)
WSS-M14P19-AMotorcraft® Premium Quality Windshield Washer Fluid, CXC-37-A/B/D/F (Canada)
Motorcraft® Professional Strength Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, ZC-54 (U.S. & Canada)
ESR-M14P5-AMotorcraft® Premium Glass Cleaner, CXC-100 (Canada)
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Note:Do not use chrome cleaner, metalcleaner or polish on wheels or wheel covers.
Exterior Plastic Parts
For routine cleaning we recommendMotorcraft Detail Wash. If tar or grease spotsare present, we recommend Motorcraft Bugand Tar Remover.
Stripes or Graphics (If Equipped)
Hand washing your vehicle is preferredhowever, pressure washing may be usedunder the following conditions:
•Do not use water pressure higher than2,000 psi (14,000 kPa).
•Do not use water hotter than 179°F (82°C).
•Use a spray with a 40° wide spray anglepattern.
•Keep the nozzle at a 12 in (305 mm)distance and 90° angle to your vehicle'ssurface.
Note:Holding the pressure washer nozzleat an angle to the vehicle's surface maydamage graphics and cause the edges topeel away from the vehicle's surface.
Underbody
Regularly clean the underside of your vehicleusing water. Keep body and door drain holesfree of debris or foreign material.
Under Hood
For removing black rubber marks from underthe hood we recommend Motorcraft Wheeland Tire Cleaner or Motorcraft Bug and TarRemover.
WAXING
Regular waxing is necessary to protect yourcar's paint from the elements. Werecommend that you wash and wax thepainted surface once or twice a year.
When washing and waxing, park your vehiclein a shaded area out of direct sunlight.Always wash your vehicle before applyingwax.
•Use a quality wax that does not containabrasives.
•Follow the manufacturer’s instructions toapply and remove the wax.
•Apply a small amount of wax in aback-and-forth motion, not in circles.
•Do not allow wax to come in contact withany non-body (low-gloss black) coloredtrim. The wax will discolor or stain theparts over time.
•Roof racks.
•Bumpers.
•Grained door handles.
•Side moldings.
•Mirror housings.
•Windshield cowl area.
•Do not apply wax to glass areas.
•After waxing, your car's paint should feelsmooth, and be free of streaks andsmudges.
CLEANING THE ENGINE
Engines are more efficient when they areclean because grease and dirt buildup keepthe engine warmer than normal.
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When washing:
•Take care when using a power washerto clean the engine. The high-pressurefluid could penetrate the sealed partsand cause damage.
•Do not spray a hot engine with cold waterto avoid cracking the engine block orother engine components.
•Spray Motorcraft Engine Shampoo andDegreaser on all parts that requirecleaning and pressure rinse clean. InCanada, use Motorcraft Engine Shampoo.
•Never wash or rinse the engine while itis hot or running; water in the runningengine may cause internal damage.
•Never wash or rinse any ignition coil,spark plug wire or spark plug well, or thearea in and around these locations.
•Cover the battery, power distribution box,and air filter assembly to prevent waterdamage when cleaning the engine.
CLEANING THE WINDOWS AND
WIPER BLADES
Car wash chemicals and environmentalfallout can result in windshield and wiperblade contamination. Dirty windshield andwipers will result in poor windshield wiperoperation. Keep the windshield and wiperblades clean to maintain windshield wiperperformance.
To clean the windshield and wiper blades:
•Clean the windshield with a non-abrasiveglass cleaner. When cleaning the interiorof the windshield, avoid getting any glasscleaner on the instrument panel or doorpanels. Wipe any glass cleaner off thesesurfaces immediately.
•For windshields contaminated with treesap, chemicals, wax or bugs, clean theentire windshield using steel wool (nogreater than 0000 grade) in a circularmotion and rinse with water.
•Clean the wiper blades with isopropylrubbing alcohol or windshield washerconcentrate.
Note: Do not use razor blades or othersharp objects to clean or remove decals fromthe inside of the heated rear window. Thevehicle warranty does not cover damagecaused to the heated rear window grid lines.
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
WARNINGS
Do not use cleaning solvents, bleachor dye on the vehicle’s safety belts, asthese actions may weaken the belt webbing.
On vehicles equipped withseat-mounted airbags, do not usechemical solvents or strong detergents. Suchproducts could contaminate the side airbagsystem and affect performance of the sideairbag in a collision.
Note:Follow the same procedure forcleaning leather seats when cleaning leatherinterior. See Cleaning Leather Seats (page332).
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CLEANING THE WHEELS
1. Regularly clean them with a wheelcleaner. We recommend that you useFord approved wheel cleaner if available.
2. Remove dirt and brake dust with asponge.
3. Remove tar and grease with a bug andtar remover. We recommend that you useFord approved bug and tar remover ifavailable.
4. Thoroughly rinse the wheels with waterafter cleaning.
If you intend on parking your vehicle for anextended period after cleaning the wheelswith a wheel cleaner, drive your vehicle fora few minutes before doing so. This reducesthe risk of corrosion of the brake discs, brakepads and linings.
Do not clean the wheels when they are hot.
Note: Some car washes could damagewheel rims and covers.
Note: Using non-recommended cleaners,harsh cleaning products, chrome wheelcleaners or abrasive materials coulddamage wheel rims and covers.
VEHICLE STORAGE
If you plan on storing your vehicle for 30days or more, read the followingmaintenance recommendations to make sureyour vehicle stays in good operatingcondition.
We engineer and test all motor vehicles andtheir components for reliable, regular driving.Under various conditions, long-term storagemay lead to degraded engine performanceor failure unless you use specific precautionsto preserve engine components.
General
•Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilatedplace.
•Protect from sunlight, if possible.
•If vehicles are stored outside, theyrequire regular maintenance to protectagainst rust and damage.
Body
•Wash your vehicle thoroughly to removedirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from exteriorsurfaces, rear-wheel housing and theunderside of front fenders.
•Periodically wash your vehicle if it isstored in exposed locations.
•Touch-up exposed or primed metal toprevent rust.
•Cover chrome and stainless steel partswith a thick coat of auto wax to preventdiscoloration. Re-wax as necessary whenyou wash your vehicle.
•Lubricate all hood, door and luggagecompartment hinges and latches with alight grade oil.
•Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
•Keep all rubber parts free from oil andsolvents.
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Engine
•Change the engine oil and filter prior tostorage because used engine oil containscontaminates which may cause enginedamage.
•Start the engine every 15 days for aminimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast idlewith the climate controls set to defrostuntil the engine reaches normaloperating temperature.
•With your foot on the brake, shift throughall the gears while the engine is running.
•We recommend that you change theengine oil before you use your vehicleagain.
Fuel system
•Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fueluntil the first automatic shutoff of the fuelpump nozzle.
Cooling system
•Protect against freezing temperatures.
•When removing your vehicle fromstorage, check coolant fluid level.Confirm that there are no cooling systemleaks and that fluid is at therecommended level.
Battery
•Check and recharge as necessary. Keepconnections clean.
•If storing your vehicle for more than 30days without recharging the battery, werecommend that you disconnect thebattery cables to maintain battery chargefor quick starting.
Note:It is necessary to reset memoryfeatures if battery cables are disconnected.
Brakes
•Make sure the brakes and parking brakerelease fully.
Tires
•Maintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
•Make sure all linkages, cables, levers andpins under your vehicle are covered withgrease to prevent rust.
•Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m) every15 days to lubricate working parts andprevent corrosion.
Removing Vehicle From Storage
When your vehicle is ready to come out ofstorage, do the following:
•Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt orgrease film build-up on window surfaces.
•Check windshield wipers for anydeterioration.
•Check under the hood for any foreignmaterial that may have collected duringstorage such as mice or squirrel nests.
•Check the exhaust for any foreignmaterial that may have collected duringstorage.
•Check tire pressures and set tire inflationper the Tire Label.
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