2019 FORD FLEX cooling

When Fail-Safe Mode Is Activated
WARNING: Fail-safe mode is for use
during emergencies only. Operate your
vehicle in fail-safe mode only as long as
necessary to bring your vehicle to rest in a
safe location and seek immediate repairs.
When in fail-safe mode, your vehicle will
have limited power, will not be able to
maintain high-speed operation, and may
completely shut down without warning,
potentially losing engine power, power
steering assist, and power brake assist,
which may increase the possibility of a
crash resulting in serious injury. WARNING:
Do not remove the
coolant reservoir cap when the engine is
on or the cooling system is hot. Wait 10
minutes for the cooling system to cool
down. Cover the coolant reservoir cap with
a thick cloth to prevent the possibility of
scalding and slowly remove the cap.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury.
Your vehicle has limited engine power
when in the fail-safe mode, drive your
vehicle with caution. Your vehicle does not
maintain high-speed operation and the
engine may operate poorly.
Remember that the engine is capable of
automatically shutting down to prevent
engine damage. In this situation:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and switch the engine off.
2. If you are a member of a roadside assistance program, we recommend
that you contact your roadside
assistance service provider.
3. If this is not possible, wait for a short period of time for the engine to cool. 4. Check the coolant level. If the coolant
level is at or below the minimum mark,
add prediluted coolant immediately.
5. When the engine temperature cools, you can re-start the engine. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible to
minimize engine damage.
Note: Driving your vehicle without repair
increases the chance of engine damage.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Management
(If Equipped) WARNING:
To reduce the risk of
crash and injury, be prepared that the
vehicle speed may reduce and the vehicle
may not be able to accelerate with full
power until the coolant temperature
reduces.
If you tow a trailer with your vehicle, the
engine may temporarily reach a higher
temperature during severe operating
conditions, for example ascending a long
or steep grade in high ambient
temperatures.
At this time, you may notice the coolant
temperature gauge moves toward the red
zone and a message may appear in the
information display.
You may notice a reduction in vehicle
speed caused by reduced engine power in
order to manage the engine coolant
temperature. Your vehicle may enter this
mode if certain high-temperature and
high-load conditions take place. The
amount of speed reduction depends on
vehicle loading, grade and ambient
temperature. If this occurs, there is no
need to stop your vehicle. You can
continue to drive.
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Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Maintenance

•
Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
• Keep all rubber parts free from oil and
solvents.
Engine
• Change the engine oil and filter prior to
storage because used engine oil
contains contaminates which may
cause engine damage.
• Start the engine every 15 days for a
minimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast idle
with the climate controls set to defrost
until the engine reaches normal
operating temperature.
• With your foot on the brake, shift
through all the gears while the engine
is running.
• We recommend that you change the
engine oil before you use your vehicle
again.
Fuel system
• Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel
until the first automatic shutoff of the
fuel pump nozzle.
Cooling system
• Protect against freezing temperatures.
• When removing your vehicle from
storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm that there are no cooling
system leaks and that fluid is at the
recommended level.
Battery
• Check and recharge as necessary. Keep
connections clean.
• If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery,
we recommend that you disconnect
the battery cables to maintain battery
charge for quick starting. Note:
It is necessary to reset memory
features if battery cables are disconnected.
Brakes
• Make sure the brakes and parking brake
release fully.
Tires
• Maintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
• Make sure all linkages, cables, levers
and pins under your vehicle are covered
with grease to prevent rust.
• Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m)
every 15 days to lubricate working parts
and prevent corrosion.
Removing Vehicle From Storage
When your vehicle is ready to come out of
storage, do the following:
• Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt
or grease film build-up on window
surfaces.
• Check windshield wipers for any
deterioration.
• Check under the hood for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage such as mice or squirrel
nests.
• Check the exhaust for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage.
• Check tire pressures and set tire
inflation per the Tire Label.
• Check brake pedal operation. Drive
your vehicle
15 ft (4.5 m) back and
forth to remove rust build-up.
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Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Vehicle Care

Touch the power icon to switch
the rear climate control
functions off and on.
Touch Rear Control to allow
the rear seat passengers to
adjust the rear climate settings.
Touch it again to prevent the rear
seat passengers from adjusting
the settings. Rear Control
automatically turns off when you
use the touchscreen to adjust
the rear climate settings.
If your vehicle has automatic
climate controls, select
Auto to
connect the rear climate settings
to the Auto settings of the driver.
Touch the up and down arrows
to adjust the temperature.
Manual airflow distribution
controls:
Select these controls
individually or together to direct
the air flow to the desired area.
K
Panel:
Distributes air through
the instrument panel vents.
Floor: Distributes air through the
demister vents, floor vents and
rear seat floor vents.
A/C:
A pop-up appears on the
screen to display the air
conditioning options.
L
MAX A/C:
Touch to cool your
vehicle with recirculated air.
Touch again for normal A/C
operation. MAX A/C distributes
air through instrument panel
vents and may help reduce odors
from entering your vehicle. MAX
A/C is more economical and
efficient than normal A/C mode. A/C:
Touch to switch the air
conditioning on or off. Use A/C
with recirculated air to improve
cooling performance and
efficiency. A/C engages
automatically in MAX A/C,
defrost and footwell/defrost.
Recirculated air:
Touch to
switch the recirculated air on or
off which may reduce the
amount of time needed to cool
down the interior and help
reduce odors from reaching the
interior. Recirculated air also
engages automatically when you
select MAX A/C. You can engage
this manually in any airflow
mode except defrost. It may also
turn off in all airflow modes
except MAX A/C to reduce fog
potential.
Driver heated and climate
controlled seats:
M
Touch the heated seat icon to
adjust the heated seat off and
on (if equipped).
Touch the climate-controlled
seat icon to adjust the
climate-controlled seat off and
on (if equipped).
PHONE WARNING:
Driving while distracted
can result in loss of vehicle control, crash
and injury. We strongly recommend that
you use extreme caution when using any
device that may take your focus off the
road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of your vehicle. We recommend
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Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing SYNC™ 3

Check Every Month
Engine oil level.
Function of all interior and exterior lights.
Tires (including spare) for wear and proper pressure. Windshield washer fluid level.
Fuel and water separator. Drain if necessary (or if indicated by the information display). Holes and slots in the tail pipe to make sure they are functional and clear of debris. Check Every Six Months
Battery connections. Clean if necessary.
Body and door drain holes for obstructions. Clean if necessary. Cooling system fluid level and coolant strength.
Door weatherstrips for wear. Lubricate if necessary.
Hinges, latches and outside locks for proper operation. Lubricate if necessary. Parking brake for proper operation.
Safety belts and seat latches for wear and function.
Safety warning lamps (brake, ABS, airbag and safety belt) for operation.
Washer spray and wiper operation. Clean or replace blades as necessary.
Multi-Point Inspection
In order to keep your vehicle running right,
it is important to have the systems on your
vehicle checked regularly. This can help
identify potential issues and prevent major
problems. We recommend having the
following multi-point inspection performed
at every scheduled maintenance interval
to help make sure your vehicle keeps
running great.
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Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Scheduled Maintenance

When to Expect the OIL CHANGE REQUIRED Message
Vehicle Use and Example
Interval
Normal
7,500– 10,000 mi
(12,000– 16,000 km) Normal commuting with highway driving
No, or moderate, load or towing
Flat to moderately hilly roads
No extended idling
Severe
5,000– 7,500 mi
(8,000– 12,000 km) Moderate to heavy load or towing
Mountainous or off-road conditions
Extended idling
Extended hot or cold operation
Extreme
3,000–5,000 mi
(5,000–8,000 km) Maximum load or towing
Extreme hot or cold operation
Normal Maintenance Intervals At Every Oil Change Interval as Indicated by the Information Display
1
Change engine oil and filter. 2
Rotate the tires.
Perform a multi-point inspection recommended.
Inspect the automatic transmission fluid level. Consult your dealer for requirements.
Inspect the brake pads, rotors, hoses and parking brake.
Inspect the engine cooling system strength and hoses.
Inspect the exhaust system and heat shields.
Inspect the rear axle and U-joints all wheel drive only.
Inspect the half-shaft boots.
Inspect the steering linkage, ball joints, suspension, tire-rod ends, driveshaft and U-
joints.
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Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Scheduled Maintenance

Cruise Control..................................................75
Principle of Operation....................................... 187
Cruise control See: Using Cruise Control................................ 187
Customer Assistance.................................225
D
Data Recording
..................................................9
Event Data Recording.......................................... 10
Service Data Recording........................................ 9
Daytime Running Lamps
.............................82
Direction Indicators.......................................83
Doors and Locks
..............................................61
Driver and Passenger Airbags...................45 Children and Airbags.......................................... 46
Proper Driver and Front Passenger Seating Adjustment........................................................ 45
Driving Aids.....................................................194
Driving Hints
...................................................216
Driving Through Water................................217
DRL See: Daytime Running Lamps......................... 82
E
Economical Driving
......................................216
Electromagnetic Compatibility.............460
Emission Law.................................................158 Noise Emissions Warranty, Prohibited
Tampering Acts and Maintenance..........159
Tampering With a Noise Control System............................................................... 158
End User License Agreement.................462 VEHICLE SOFTWARE END USER LICENSE
AGREEMENT (EULA) ................................. 462
Engine Block Heater
....................................149
Using the Engine Block Heater...................... 150
Engine Coolant Check...............................249 Adding Coolant.................................................. 249
Coolant Change................................................... 251
Engine Coolant Temperature Management.................................................. 252
Fail-Safe Cooling................................................ 251
Recycled Coolant................................................ 251
Severe Climates.................................................. 251
Engine Emission Control...........................158 Engine Immobilizer
See: Passive Anti-Theft System...................... 71
Engine Oil Check
...........................................247
Adding Engine Oil............................................... 247
Engine Oil Dipstick.......................................247
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Duratec
.........................................................299
Drivebelt Routing............................................... 299
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™
.................................................299
Drivebelt Routing.............................................. 300
Entertainment..............................................382 AM/FM Radio...................................................... 383
Apps........................................................................\
391
Bluetooth Stereo or USB................................ 390
CD (If equipped)................................................ 389
HD Radio ™ Information (If
Available)........................................................ 386
SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (If Activated)........................................................ 384
Sources.................................................................. 383
Supported Media Players, Formats and Metadata Information................................. 391
USB Ports.............................................................. 391
Environment......................................................14
Essential Towing Checks............................211 Before Towing a Trailer..................................... 213
Hitches.................................................................... 212
Launching or Retrieving a Boat or Personal Watercraft (PWC)......................................... 214
Safety Chains....................................................... 212
Trailer Brake Controller Connector...............212
Trailer Brakes........................................................ 212
Trailer Lamps........................................................ 213
Trailer Towing Connector (Vehicles with a Trailer Towing Package and 7 –Pin
Connector)........................................................ 211
When Towing a Trailer....................................... 213
Event Data Recording See: Data Recording.............................................. 9
Export Unique Options..................................13
Exterior Mirrors................................................86 Blind Spot Information System...................... 87
Direction Indicator Mirrors................................. 87
Fold-Away Exterior Mirrors............................... 86
Heated Exterior Mirrors ......................................87
Integrated Blind Spot Mirror............................. 87
Memory Mirrors .................................................... 87
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Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Index

Power Exterior Mirrors........................................
86
Power-Folding Mirrors....................................... 86
Puddle Lamps....................................................... 87
F
Fastening the Seatbelts...............................35 Rear Inflatable Seatbelt..................................... 37
Seatbelt Locking Modes.................................... 36
Using Seatbelts During Pregnancy................35
Flat Tire See: Changing a Road Wheel....................... 293
Floor Mats........................................................217
Fog Lamps - Front See: Front Fog Lamps........................................ 83
Foot Pedals See: Adjusting the Pedals.................................. 77
Ford Credit
..........................................................11
US Only...................................................................... 11
Ford Protect..................................................440 Ford Protect Extended Service Plan
(CANADA ONLY)........................................... 441
Ford Protect Extended Service Plans (U.S. Only)................................................................. 440
Front Fog Lamps............................................83
Front Passenger Sensing System............46
Fuel and Refueling........................................151
Fuel Consumption.......................................156 Advertised Capacity.......................................... 156
Fuel Economy...................................................... 156
Fuel Filler Funnel Location
........................152
Fuel Quality......................................................151 Choosing the Right Fuel.................................... 151
Fuel Shutoff...................................................220
Fuses.................................................................232
Fuse Specification Chart...........................232 Passenger Compartment Fuse Panel........237
Power Distribution Box.................................... 232
G
Garage Door Opener See: Universal Garage Door Opener...........136
Gauges...............................................................90
Gearbox See: Transmission.............................................. 162General Information on Radio
Frequencies...................................................52
Intelligent Access................................................. 52
General Maintenance Information.......442 Multi-Point Inspection..................................... 444
Owner Checks and Services.......................... 443
Protecting Your Investment........................... 442
Why Maintain Your Vehicle?......................... 442
Why Maintain Your Vehicle at Your Dealership?..................................................... 442
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada.........................................................228
Getting the Services You Need...............225 Away From Home.............................................. 225
H
Handbrake See: Parking Brake.............................................. 174
Hazard Flashers...........................................220
Headlamp Adjusting See: Adjusting the Headlamps..................... 259
Headlamp Exit Delay
....................................82
Headlamp Removal See: Removing a Headlamp......................... 260
Headrest See: Head Restraints.......................................... 121
Head Restraints
..............................................121
Adjusting the Head Restraint......................... 122
Tilting Head Restraints .................................... 124
Heated Exterior Mirrors
................................119
Heated Rear Window...................................119
Heated Seats
..................................................134
Front Seats............................................................ 134
Second Row Heated Seats............................. 134
Heated Steering Wheel
................................75
Heating See: Climate Control........................................... 112
Hints on Controlling the Interior Climate...........................................................116
Defogging the Side Windows in Cold Weather.............................................................. 118
General Hints........................................................ 116
Quickly Cooling the Interior.............................. 117
Quickly Heating the Interior.............................. 117
Recommended Settings for Cooling............118
Recommended Settings for Heating............117
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Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Index

Operating AWD Vehicles With Spare
Tires..................................................................... 167
Using Cruise Control....................................187 Canceling the Set Speed................................. 187
Changing the Set Speed.................................. 187
Resuming the Set Speed................................ 188
Setting the Cruise Speed................................. 187
Switching Cruise Control Off......................... 188
Switching Cruise Control On.......................... 187
Using MyKey With Remote Start Systems..........................................................59
Using Snow Chains.....................................288
Using Stability Control................................177
Using SYNC™ With Your Media Player............................................................344
Accessing Your Play Menu............................. 349
Connecting Your Digital Media Player to the USB Port.......................................................... 344
Media Menu Features....................................... 347
Media Voice Commands................................ 346
System Settings.................................................. 351
What's Playing?................................................. 345
Using SYNC™ With Your Phone
............329
Accessing Features Through the Phone
Menu.................................................................. 333
Accessing Your Phone Settings.................... 337
Making a Call....................................................... 332
Pairing a Cell Phone for the First Time................................................................... 329
Pairing Subsequent Cell Phones.................330
Phone Options during an Active Call.........332
Phone Voice Commands................................ 330
Receiving Calls.................................................... 332
System Settings................................................. 339
Text Messaging................................................... 335
Using Traction Control................................175 Switching the System Off................................ 175
System Indicator Lights and Messages........................................................... 175
Using a Switch...................................................... 175
Using the Information Display Controls............................................................. 175
Using Voice Recognition...........................326 Audio Voice Commands.................................. 376
Climate Voice Commands.............................. 377
Initiating a Voice Session................................ 326
Mobile App Voice Commands..................... 380
Navigation Voice Commands........................ 379Phone Voice Commands.................................
377
SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link Voice Commands..................................................... 380
System Interaction and Feedback...............327
Voice Settings Commands............................. 381
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration Program (Canada Only)
........................228
V
Vehicle Care...................................................265 General Information......................................... 265
Vehicle Certification Label.......................304
Vehicle Identification Number................303
Vehicle Storage.............................................270 Battery..................................................................... 271
Body........................................................................\
270
Brakes...................................................................... 271
Cooling system..................................................... 271
Engine...................................................................... 271
Fuel system........................................................... 271
General.................................................................. 270
Miscellaneous....................................................... 271
Removing Vehicle From Storage................... 271
Tires........................................................................\
.. 271
Ventilation See: Climate Control........................................... 112
VIN See: Vehicle Identification Number............303
Voice Control....................................................75
W
Warning Lamps and Indicators..................91 Adaptive Cruise Control...................................... 91
Airbag Readiness.................................................. 92
Anti-Lock Braking System................................ 92
Battery...................................................................... 92
Brake System......................................................... 92
Charging System.................................................. 92
Cruise Control........................................................ 92
Directional Indicator............................................ 92
Door Ajar.................................................................. 92
Engine Coolant Temperature........................... 92
Engine Oil................................................................ 93
Fasten Seatbelt Warning Lamp...................... 93
Front Airbag............................................................ 93
Front Fog Lamps.................................................. 93
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Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Index