2019 FORD FLEX snow chains

Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance
..................................219
Hazard Flashers ..........................................
220
Fuel Shutoff ..................................................
220
Jump Starting the Vehicle .........................
221
Post-Crash Alert System ..........................
223
Transporting the Vehicle ..........................
223
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need ..............
225
In California (U.S. Only) ............................
226
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only) .....................
227
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration Program (Canada Only) ......................
228
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada .......................................................
228
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature ........................................................................\
230
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only) ........................................................................\
230
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only) ........................................................................\
230
Fuses
Fuse Specification Chart ..........................
232
Changing a Fuse ...........................................
241
Maintenance
General Information ..................................
243
Opening and Closing the Hood .............
243
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Duratec ........................................................................\
244
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Ecoboost™ ........................................................................\
245
Engine Oil Dipstick ......................................
247
Engine Oil Check .........................................
247
Oil Change Indicator Reset .....................
248
Engine Coolant Check ..............................
249
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check ........................................................................\
253 Brake Fluid Check
.......................................
255
Power Steering Fluid Check ....................
255
Washer Fluid Check ...................................
255
Changing the 12V Battery ........................
256
Checking the Wiper Blades .....................
257
Changing the Wiper Blades ....................
258
Adjusting the Headlamps .......................
259
Removing a Headlamp ............................
260
Changing a Bulb .........................................
260
Changing the Engine Air Filter ...............
263
Vehicle Care
General Information ..................................
265
Cleaning Products ......................................
265
Cleaning the Exterior .................................
265
Waxing ............................................................
267
Cleaning the Engine ...................................
267
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades ........................................................................\
267
Cleaning the Interior ..................................
268
Cleaning the Instrument Panel and Instrument Cluster Lens ......................
268
Cleaning Leather Seats ............................
269
Repairing Minor Paint Damage ..............
270
Cleaning the Wheels .................................
270
Vehicle Storage ............................................
270
Body Styling Kits ..........................................
272
Wheels and Tires
General Information ...................................
273
Tire Care .........................................................
275
Using Snow Chains ....................................
288
Tire Pressure Monitoring System .........
289
Changing a Road Wheel ..........................
293
Technical Specifications .........................
298
Capacities and Specifications
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Duratec ........................................................................\
299
4
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Table of Contents

Although natural obstacles may make it
necessary to travel diagonally up or down
a hill or steep incline, you should always
try to drive straight up or straight down.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start
in a lower gear rather than downshifting to
a lower gear from a higher gear once the
ascent has started. This reduces strain on
the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turnaround
because you might roll over. It is better to
back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to
climb the hill. Too much power will cause
the tires to slip, spin or lose traction,
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you would
use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive
brake application and brake overheating.
Do not descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually shift to a
lower gear. When descending a steep hill,
avoid sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. The front wheels have to be
turning in order to steer the vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore
apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump”
the brakes. Driving on Snow and Ice WARNING: If you are driving in
slippery conditions that require tire chains
or cables, then it is critical that you drive
cautiously. Keep speeds down, allow for
longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances
of a loss of vehicle control which can lead
to serious injury or death. If the rear end of
your vehicle slides while cornering, steer in
the direction of the slide until you regain
control of your vehicle.
Note: Excessive tire slippage can cause
driveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WD
vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like
any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on
snowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheel
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and
quick changes of direction on snow and
ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and
steadily when starting from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although an
AWD vehicle may accelerate better than
a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice,
it won ’t stop any faster, because as in other
vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels.
Do not become overconfident as to road
conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance
between you and other vehicles for
stopping. Drive slower than usual and
consider using one of the lower gears. In
emergency stopping situations, apply the
brake steadily. Since your vehicle is
equipped with a four wheel (ABS), do not
“pump ” the brakes. See Hints on Driving
With Anti-Lock Brakes
(page 174).
171
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing All-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)E143949

Note:
Your vehicle may be
equipped with a dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly. A
dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly is defined as a spare
wheel and tire assembly that is
different in brand, size or
appearance from the road tires and
wheels. If you have a dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly, it is
intended for temporary use only
and should not be used in a tire
rotation.
Note: After having your tires
rotated, inflation pressure must be
checked and adjusted to the
vehicle requirements.
Rotating your tires at the
recommended interval will help
your tires wear more evenly,
providing better tire performance
and longer tire life. Sometimes
irregular tire wear can be
corrected by rotating the tires. See
Scheduled Maintenance (page
442). USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING:
Snow tires must be the
same size, load index, and speed rating as
those originally provided by Ford. Use of
any tire or wheel not recommended by
Ford can affect the safety and
performance of your vehicle, which could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury,
and death. Additionally, the use of
non-recommended tires and wheels could
cause steering, suspension, axle, transfer
case, or power transfer unit failure. It is also
strongly advised to follow the Ford
recommended tire inflation pressure found
on the Safety Compliance Certification
Label (affixed to either the door hinge
pillar, door-latch post, or the door edge
that meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver ’s seating position), or Tire Label
which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge
of the driver door. Failure to follow the tire
pressure recommendations can cause
uneven treadwear patterns and adversely
affect the way your vehicle handles.
Note: The suspension insulation and
bumpers will help prevent vehicle damage.
Do not remove these components from your
vehicle when using snow tires and chains.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weather
treads to provide traction in rain and snow.
However, in some climates, you may need
to use snow tires and cables. If you need
to use cables, it is recommended that steel
wheels (of the same size and
specifications) be used, as cables may chip
aluminum wheels.
288
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Wheels and TiresE142547

Follow these guidelines when using snow
tires and chains:
•
If possible, avoid fully loading your
vehicle.
• Use only SAE Class S snow chains,
snow cables or equivalent on the front
axle for P235/60R17, P235/60R18, and
P235/55R19 equipped vehicles. The
use of snow chains, snow cables or
other traction assist devices that are
larger than SAE Class S may cause
damage to your vehicle ’s wheel house,
suspension and/or body.
• Do not install tire chains, cables, or
optional traction devices on the rear
tires. This could cause damage to the
vehicle ’s wheel house or body.
• Do not use tire chains, cables, or
optional traction devices with
255/45R20 tires.
• Install cable chains securely, verifying
that the cables do not touch any wiring,
brake lines or fuel lines.
• Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h) with
tire cables on your vehicle.
• Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables
rub or bang against your vehicle, stop
and retighten the cables. If this does
not work, remove the cables to prevent
damage to your vehicle.
• Remove the tire cables when they are
no longer needed. Do not use tire
cables on dry roads. TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM WARNING:
The tire pressure
monitoring system is not a substitute for
manually checking tire pressures. You
should periodically check tire pressures
using a pressure gauge. Failure to correctly
maintain tire pressures could increase the
risk of tire failure, loss of control, vehicle
rollover and personal injury.
Note: You should only use tire sealants in
roadside emergencies as they may cause
damage to the tire pressure monitoring
system sensor.
Note: If the tire pressure monitoring system
sensor becomes damaged, it may not
function. Each tire, including the spare, if
provided, should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated
to the inflation pressure recommended by
the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label.
Installation of any tires that are not the
original equipment tire size can cause the
speedometer to display incorrect vehicle
speed.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with a Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltale
when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle ’s handling and stopping ability.
289
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Wheels and Tires

1.
T-type mini-spare: This spare tire
begins with the letter T for tire size and
may have Temporary Use Only molded in
the sidewall.
2. Full-size dissimilar spare with label
on wheel:
This spare tire has a label on
the wheel that states: THIS WHEEL AND
TIRE ASSEMBLY FOR TEMPORARY USE
ONLY.
When driving with one of the dissimilar
spare tires listed above, do not:
• Exceed
50 mph (80 km/h).
• Load the vehicle beyond maximum
vehicle load rating listed on the Safety
Compliance Label.
• Tow a trailer.
• Use snow chains on the end of the
vehicle with the dissimilar spare tire.
• Use more than one dissimilar spare tire
at a time.
• Use commercial car washing
equipment.
• Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire.
Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires
listed above at any one wheel location can
lead to impairment of the following:
• Handling, stability and braking
performance.
• Comfort and noise.
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs.
• Winter weather driving capability.
• Wet weather driving capability.
• All-wheel driving capability.
3. Full-size dissimilar spare without
label on wheel
When driving with the full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly, do not:
• Exceed
70 mph (113 km/h).
• Use more than one dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly at a time. •
Use commercial car washing
equipment.
• Use snow chains on the end of the
vehicle with the dissimilar spare wheel
and tire assembly.
The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly can lead to
impairment of the following:
• Handling, stability and braking
performance.
• Comfort and noise.
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs.
• Winter weather driving capability.
• Wet weather driving capability.
• All-wheel driving capability.
When driving with the full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly additional
caution should be given to:
• Towing a trailer.
• Driving vehicles equipped with a
camper body.
• Driving vehicles with a load on the
cargo rack.
Drive cautiously when using a full-size
dissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly
and seek service as soon as possible.
Tire Change Procedure WARNING:
When one of the front
wheels is off the ground, the transmission
alone will not prevent your vehicle from
moving or slipping off the jack, even if the
transmission is in park (P) or neutral (N).
294
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Wheels and Tires

Roadside Assistance...................................219
Vehicles Sold in Canada: Getting Roadside
Assistance....................................................... 220
Vehicles Sold in Canada: Roadside Assistance Program Coverage................220
Vehicles Sold in Canada: Using Roadside Assistance....................................................... 220
Vehicles Sold in the United States: Getting Roadside Assistance.................................... 219
Vehicles Sold in the United States: Using Roadside Assistance.................................... 219
Roadside Emergencies...............................219
Roof Racks and Load Carriers................202
Running-In See: Breaking-In.................................................. 216
Running Out of Fuel.....................................152 Adding Fuel From a Portable Fuel
Container.......................................................... 153
Filling a Portable Fuel Container................... 152
S
Safety Canopy ™
............................................49
Safety Precautions........................................151
Scheduled Maintenance Record
...........450
Scheduled Maintenance...........................442
Seatbelt Extension.........................................41
Seatbelt Height Adjustment
......................38
Seatbelt Reminder........................................39 Belt-Minder™........................................................ 39
Seatbelts...........................................................34 Principle of Operation........................................ 34
Seatbelt Warning Lamp and Indicator Chime
..............................................................39
Conditions of operation..................................... 39
Seats...................................................................121
Security
................................................................71
Settings.............................................................411 911 Assist................................................................ 416
Ambient Lighting............................................... 422
Bluetooth............................................................... 413
Clock........................................................................\
413
Display................................................................... 423
General.................................................................. 420
Media Player......................................................... 412
Mobile Apps.......................................................... 419
Navigation.............................................................. 417
Phone...................................................................... 413Radio.......................................................................
416
Sound....................................................................... 411
Valet Mode........................................................... 424
Vehicle.................................................................... 422
Voice Control....................................................... 424
Wi-Fi & Hotspot.................................................. 421
Side Airbags
.....................................................48
Sitting in the Correct Position...................121
Snow Chains See: Using Snow Chains................................. 288
Spare Wheel See: Changing a Road Wheel....................... 293
Special Notices................................................12 New Vehicle Limited Warranty......................... 12
On Board Diagnostics Data Link Connector............................................................ 13
Special Instructions.............................................. 12
Special Operating Conditions Scheduled Maintenance..............................................448
Exceptions........................................................... 449
Speed Control See: Cruise Control............................................. 187
Stability Control
............................................176
Principle of Operation....................................... 176
Starter Switch See: Ignition Switch........................................... 145
Starting a Gasoline Engine.......................146 Automatic Engine Shutdown........................ 148
Failure to Start..................................................... 148
Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes................149
Important Ventilating Information...............149
Stopping the Engine When Your Vehicle is Moving............................................................... 149
Stopping the Engine When Your Vehicle is Stationary......................................................... 148
Vehicles with an Ignition Key.......................... 147
Vehicles with Keyless Start............................. 147
Starting and Stopping the Engine..........145 General Information.......................................... 145
Steering............................................................199 Electric Power Steering.................................... 199
Steering Wheel................................................73
Storage Compartments
.............................143
Sunroof See: Moonroof...................................................... 88
Sun Visors.........................................................88 Illuminated Vanity Mirror................................... 88
507
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
509
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Index