2019 FORD FLEX brakes

RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Website
TRAILER SWAY CONTROL (If
Equipped) WARNING:
Turning off trailer sway
control increases the risk of loss of vehicle
control, serious injury or death. Ford does
not recommend disabling this feature
except in situations where speed reduction
may be detrimental (such as hill climbing),
the driver has significant trailer towing
experience, and can control trailer sway
and maintain safe operation.
Note: This feature does not prevent trailer
sway, but reduces it when it begins.
Note: This feature cannot stop all trailers
from swaying.
Note: In some cases, if your vehicle speed
is too high, the system may turn on multiple
times, gradually reducing your vehicle speed.
The system applies the brakes to the
individual wheels and reduces engine
torque to aid vehicle stability. If the trailer
begins to sway, the stability control
warning lamp flashes and a message
appears in the information display. See
Information Messages
(page 103). Slow
your vehicle down, pull safely to the side
of the road and check for correct load
distribution. See
Load Carrying (page
202).
You can switch this feature off in the
information display. When you switch the
ignition on, the system automatically turns
on. RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS
Note:
Do not exceed the trailer
weight for your vehicle
configuration listed in the chart
below.
Note: Make sure to take into
consideration trailer frontal area.
Do not exceed 20 ft² (1.86 m²) if
your vehicle can tow a class I
trailer, or 40 ft² (3.72 m²) if your
vehicle can tow a class III trailer.
Note: For high altitude operation,
reduce the gross combined weight
by 2% per
1,000 ft (300 m)
starting at the 1,000 ft (300 m)
elevation point.
Note: Certain states require
electric trailer brakes for trailers
over a specified weight. Check
state regulations for this specified
weight. The maximum trailer
weights listed may be limited to
this specified weight, as the
vehicle ’s electrical system may not
include the wiring connector
needed to use electric trailer
brakes.
209
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Towing

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•
Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws
for towing a trailer.
• See the instructions included with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment
specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer.
See Scheduled
Maintenance (page 442).
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives
you.
You can find information on load
specification terms found on the tire label
and Safety Compliance label as well as
instructions on calculating your vehicle's
load in the Load Carrying chapter. See
Load Limit
(page 202).
Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of your vehicle load
when calculating the total vehicle weight. Trailer Towing Connector
(Vehicles with a Trailer Towing
Package and 7
–Pin Connector) When attaching the trailer wiring connector
to your vehicle, only use a proper fitting
connector that works with the vehicle and
trailer functions. Some seven-position
connectors may have the SAE J2863 logo,
which confirms that it is the proper wiring
connector and works correctly with your
vehicle.
Function
Color
Left turn signal and stop lamp
Yellow
Ground (-)
White
Electric brakes
Blue
Right turn signal and stop
lamp
Green
Battery (+)
Orange
Running lights
Brown
Reverse lights
Grey
211
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing TowingE211391

Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the
total trailer weight is on the tongue.
Weight-Distributing Hitch
WARNING: Do not adjust the spring
bars so that your vehicle's rear bumper is
higher than before attaching the trailer.
Doing so will defeat the function of the
weight-distributing hitch, which may cause
unpredictable handling, and could result
in serious personal injury.
When hooking-up a trailer using a
weight-distributing hitch, always use the
following procedure:
1. Park your vehicle, without the trailer, on a level surface.
2. Measure the height of the top of your vehicle ’s front wheel opening on the
fender. This is H1.
3. Attach the trailer to your vehicle without the weight-distributing bars
connected.
4. Measure the height of the top of your vehicle ’s front wheel opening on the
fender a second time. This is H2.
5. Install and adjust the tension in the weight distributing bars so that the
height of the front fender is
approximately halfway between H1 and
H2.
6. Check that the trailer is level. If not level, adjust the ball height accordingly
and repeat Steps 3–6.
Safety Chains
Note: Never attach safety chains to the
bumper. Always connect the safety chains to the
hook retainers of your vehicle hitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross them
under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning tight corners. Do not allow
the chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
WARNING: Do not connect a trailer's
hydraulic brake system directly to your
vehicle's brake system. Your vehicle may
not have enough braking power and your
chances of having a collision greatly
increase.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them to
the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Separate functioning brake systems
are required for safe control of towed
vehicles and trailers weighing more
than 1500 lb (680 kg) when loaded.
Trailer Brake Controller Connector
(If Equipped)
The connector is located under the
instrument panel above the brake pedal.
212
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Towing

Trailer Lamps
WARNING: Never connect any trailer
lamp wiring to the vehicle's tail lamp
wiring; this may damage the electrical
system resulting in fire. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible for
assistance in proper trailer tow wiring
installation. Additional electrical
equipment may be required.
Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working. Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up
to get the feel of your vehicle-trailer
combination before starting on a trip.
When turning, make wider turns so the
trailer wheels clear curbs and other
obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•
Do not drive faster than 70 mph
(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi
(800 km).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
gearshift in park (P) to aid engine and
transmission cooling and to help A/C
performance.
• Turn off the speed control with heavy
loads or in hilly terrain. The speed
control may turn off automatically
when you are towing on long, steep
grades.
• Shift to a lower gear when driving down
a long or steep hill. Do not apply the
brakes continuously, as they may
overheat and become less effective.
• If your transmission is equipped with a
Grade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, use
this feature when towing. This provides
engine braking and helps eliminate
excessive transmission shifting for
optimum fuel economy and
transmission cooling.
• Allow more distance for stopping with
a trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a grade. However, if
you must park on a grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away from traffic flow.
213
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing TowingE211392

•
Transmissions give their best fuel
economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure
on the gas pedal.
• Four-wheel-drive operation (if
equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER WARNING: Do not drive through
flowing or deep water as you may lose
control of your vehicle.
Note: Driving through standing water can
cause vehicle damage.
Note: Engine damage can occur if water
enters the air filter.
Before driving through standing water,
check the depth. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of the front
rocker area of your vehicle. When driving through standing water, drive
very slowly and do not stop your vehicle.
Your brake performance and traction may
be limited. After driving through water and
as soon as it is safe to do so: •
Lightly press the brake pedal to dry the
brakes and to check that they work.
• Check that the horn works.
• Check that the exterior lights work.
• Turn the steering wheel to check that
the steering power assist works.
FLOOR MATS WARNING: Use a floor mat designed
to fit the footwell of your vehicle that does
not obstruct the pedal area. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in the
loss of control of your vehicle, personal
injury or death. WARNING:
Pedals that cannot
move freely can cause loss of vehicle
control and increase the risk of serious
personal injury. WARNING:
Secure the floor mat to
both retention devices so that it cannot
slip out of position and interfere with the
pedals. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in the loss of control of your
vehicle, personal injury or death. WARNING:
Do not place additional
floor mats or any other covering on top of
the original floor mats. This could result in
the floor mat interfering with the operation
of the pedals. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle, personal injury or
death. WARNING:
Always make sure that
objects cannot fall into the driver foot well
while your vehicle is moving. Objects that
are loose can become trapped under the
pedals causing a loss of vehicle control.
217
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Driving HintsE266447

•
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.
271
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Vehicle Care

A
A/C
See: Climate Control........................................... 112
About This Manual...........................................7
ABS See: Brakes............................................................ 173
ABS driving hints See: Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock
Brakes................................................................. 174
Accessories....................................................438 Exterior Style....................................................... 438
Interior Style........................................................ 438
Lifestyle................................................................. 438
Peace of Mind..................................................... 438
Accessories See: Replacement Parts
Recommendation............................................ 12
ACC See: Using Adaptive Cruise Control............188
Active Park Assist.........................................179 Automatic Steering into Parking
Space.................................................................. 181
Deactivating the Park Assist Feature..........182
Troubleshooting the System.......................... 182
Using Active Park Assist.................................. 180
Adjusting the Headlamps
........................259
Horizontal Aim Adjustment.......................... 260
Vertical Aim......................................................... 259
Adjusting the Pedals......................................77
Adjusting the Steering Wheel - Vehicles With: Manual Adjustable Steering
Column............................................................74
Adjusting the Steering Wheel - Vehicles With: Power Adjustable Steering
Column............................................................73
End of Travel Position......................................... 73
Memory Feature.................................................... 73
Airbag Disposal................................................51
Air Conditioning See: Climate Control........................................... 112
Air Filter See: Changing the Engine Air Filter.............263
Alarm See: Anti-Theft Alarm......................................... 72
All-Wheel Drive.............................................166
Ambient Lighting...........................................84 Adjusting the Brightness................................... 84Changing the Color.............................................
84
Switching Ambient Lighting Off..................... 84
Switching Ambient Lighting On..................... 84
Anti-Theft Alarm
.............................................72
Arming the Alarm................................................. 72
Disarming the Alarm............................................ 72
Appendices...................................................460
Apps.................................................................408 ........................................................................\
......... 408
SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link................... 410
At a Glance........................................................15
Audible Warnings and Indicators
.............94
Headlamps On Warning Chime..................... 94
Key in Ignition Warning Chime........................ 94
Keyless Warning Alert........................................ 94
Parking Brake On Warning Chime.................94
Audio Control
...................................................74
Seek, Next or Previous........................................ 74
Audio System
.................................................315
General Information.......................................... 315
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: AM/FM/CD/ SYNC/Satellite Radio
..............................316
Accessing the Auxiliary Media
Sources.............................................................. 316
Accessing the Clock Settings......................... 316
Accessing the Menu........................................... 317
Accessing the Phone Features....................... 317
Accessing the Sound Settings....................... 317
Adjusting the Volume........................................ 317
Changing Radio Stations.................................. 317
Ejecting the CD..................................................... 317
Listening to a CD................................................. 317
Listening to Satellite Radio............................. 317
Listening to the Radio........................................ 317
Menu Structure................................................... 318
Muting the Audio................................................ 318
Playing or Pausing Media................................ 318
Switching the Audio Unit On and Off.........318
Using Seek, Fast Forward and Reverse.............................................................. 318
Using the Display Control................................ 318
Using the Number Block.................................. 318
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Premium AM/FM/CD...................................................321
Adjusting the Volume........................................ 321
Changing Radio Stations................................. 321
Ejecting the CD.................................................... 321
Inserting a CD....................................................... 321
499
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Index

Switching the Audio Unit On and Off..........321
Using Seek, Fast Forward and
Reverse............................................................... 321
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Sony AM/ FM/CD...........................................................322
Accessing the Sound Settings...................... 322
Adjusting the Volume....................................... 322
Changing Radio Stations................................ 322
Selecting the Audio Modes............................ 322
Switching the Audio Unit On and Off.........322
Using Seek, Fast Forward and Reverse.............................................................. 323
Autolamps.........................................................81
Windshield Wiper Activated
Headlamps......................................................... 81
Automatic Climate Control - Vehicles With: Premium AM/FM/CD.....................113
Setting the Blower Motor Speed................... 113
Setting the Temperature.................................. 114
Switching Auto Mode On and Off.................114
Switching Defrost On and Off........................ 114
Switching Dual Zone Mode On and Off........................................................................\
. 114
Switching Maximum Air Conditioning On and Off................................................................ 114
Switching Recirculated Air On and Off........................................................................\
. 114
Switching the Air Conditioning On and Off........................................................................\
. 114
Switching the Climate Control On and Off........................................................................\
. 114
Automatic Climate Control - Vehicles With: Sony Audio System
........................115
Setting the Blower Motor Speed................... 115
Setting the Temperature................................... 115
Switching Auto Mode On and Off.................115
Switching Defrost On and Off........................ 115
Switching Maximum Air Conditioning On and Off................................................................ 115
Switching Recirculated Air On and Off........................................................................\
116
Switching the Air Conditioning On and Off........................................................................\
. 115
Switching the Climate Control On and Off........................................................................\
. 115
Automatic Transmission
............................162
Automatic Transmission Adaptive
Learning............................................................. 165Brake-Shift Interlock.........................................
164
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud or Snow.................................................................. 165
SelectShift Automatic ™
Transmission................................................... 162
Understanding the Positions of Your Automatic Transmission............................. 162
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check
.............................................................253
Adding Transmission Fluid ............................ 254
Checking the Transmission Fluid Level................................................................... 253
Autowipers........................................................78
Auxiliary Power Points.................................141 110 Volt AC Power Point.................................... 141
12 Volt DC Power Point...................................... 141
Locations................................................................ 141
AWD See: All-Wheel Drive......................................... 166
B
Battery See: Changing the 12V Battery..................... 256
Blind Spot Information System..............194 Switching the System Off and On...............195
System Errors....................................................... 195
System Limitations............................................ 195
Using the System............................................... 194
BLIS See: Blind Spot Information System..........194
Body Styling Kits
...........................................272
Bonnet Lock See: Opening and Closing the Hood..........243
Booster Seats..................................................28 Types of Booster Seats...................................... 29
Brake Fluid Check........................................255
Brakes................................................................173 General Information........................................... 173
Breaking-In......................................................216
Bulb Specification Chart
............................313
C
Cabin Air Filter...............................................120
500
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Index